Philosophy of Interdisciplinarity

Download Philosophy of Interdisciplinarity PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1315387085
Total Pages : 251 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (153 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Philosophy of Interdisciplinarity by : Jan Cornelius Schmidt

Download or read book Philosophy of Interdisciplinarity written by Jan Cornelius Schmidt and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2021-12-27 with total page 251 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Interdisciplinarity is a hallmark of contemporary knowledge production. This book introduces a Philosophy of Interdisciplinarity at the intersection of science, society and sustainability. In light of the ambivalence of the technosciences and the challenge of sustainable development in the Anthropocene, this engaged philosophy provides a novel critical perspective on interdisciplinarity in science policy and research practice. It draws upon the original spirit of interdisciplinarity as an environmentalist concept and advocates an essential change in human-nature relations. The author utilizes the rich tradition of philosophy for case study analysis and develops a framework to disentangle the various forms of inter- and transdisciplinarity. Philosophy of Interdisciplinarity offers a foundation for a critical-reflexive program of interdisciplinarity conducive to a sustainable future for our knowledge society and contributes to fields such as sustainability sciences, social ecology, environmental ethics, technology assessment, complex systems, philosophy of nature, and philosophy of science. It injects a fresh way of thinking on interdisciplinarity – and supports researchers as well as science policy makers, university managers, and academic administrators in critical-reflexive knowledge production for sustainable development.

Interdisciplinarity

Download Interdisciplinarity PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Wayne State University Press
ISBN 13 : 9780814320884
Total Pages : 340 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (28 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Interdisciplinarity by : Julie Thompson Klein

Download or read book Interdisciplinarity written by Julie Thompson Klein and published by Wayne State University Press. This book was released on 1990 with total page 340 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this volume, Julie Klein provides the first comprehensive study of the modern concept of interdisciplinarity, supplementing her discussion with the most complete bibliography yet compiled on the subject. In this volume, Julie Klein provides the first comprehensive study of the modern concept of interdisciplinarity, supplementing her discussion with the most complete bibliography yet compiled on the subject. Spanning the social sciences, natural sciences, humanities, and professions, her study is a synthesis of existing scholarship on interdisciplinary research, education and health care. Klein argues that any interdisciplinary activity embodies a complex network of historical, social, psychological, political, economic, philosophical, and intellectual factors. Whether the context is a short-ranged instrumentality or a long-range reconceptualization of the way we know and learn, the concept of interdisciplinarity is an important means of solving problems and answering questions that cannot be satisfactorily addressed using singular methods or approaches.

Interdisciplinarity in the Making

Download Interdisciplinarity in the Making PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : MIT Press
ISBN 13 : 0262544660
Total Pages : 393 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (625 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Interdisciplinarity in the Making by : Nancy J. Nersessian

Download or read book Interdisciplinarity in the Making written by Nancy J. Nersessian and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2022-11-22 with total page 393 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A cognitive ethnography of how bioengineering scientists create innovative modeling methods. In this first full-scale, long-term cognitive ethnography by a philosopher of science, Nancy J. Nersessian offers an account of how scientists at the interdisciplinary frontiers of bioengineering create novel problem-solving methods. Bioengineering scientists model complex dynamical biological systems using concepts, methods, materials, and other resources drawn primarily from engineering. They aim to understand these systems sufficiently to control or intervene in them. What Nersessian examines here is how cutting-edge bioengineering scientists integrate the cognitive, social, material, and cultural dimensions of practice. Her findings and conclusions have broad implications for researchers in philosophy, science studies, cognitive science, and interdisciplinary studies, as well as scientists, educators, policy makers, and funding agencies. In studying the epistemic practices of scientists, Nersessian pushes the boundaries of the philosophy of science and cognitive science into areas not ventured before. She recounts a decades-long, wide-ranging, and richly detailed investigation of the innovative interdisciplinary modeling practices of bioengineering researchers in four university laboratories. She argues and demonstrates that the methods of cognitive ethnography and qualitative data analysis, placed in the framework of distributed cognition, provide the tools for a philosophical analysis of how scientific discoveries arise from complex systems in which the cognitive, social, material, and cultural dimensions of problem-solving are integrated into the epistemic practices of scientists. Specifically, she looks at how interdisciplinary environments shape problem-solving. Although Nersessian’s case material is drawn from the bioengineering sciences, her analytic framework and methodological approach are directly applicable to scientific research in a broader, more general sense, as well.

Unified Philosophy

Download Unified Philosophy PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781516537921
Total Pages : 312 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (379 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Unified Philosophy by : Michael M Kazanjian

Download or read book Unified Philosophy written by Michael M Kazanjian and published by . This book was released on 2018-12-13 with total page 312 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Unified Philosophy: Interdisciplinary Metaphysics, Cyberethics, and Liberal Arts presents an integrated vision of metaphysics, ethics, and philosophy and posits that philosophy is a form of theoretical and applied metaphysics. This integration forms the foundation of general education, or what is considered to be liberal arts and sciences. The book shows how introductory philosophy courses can be adapted for freshman and faculty orientation to 2 and 4 year colleges, and universities, and senior reorientations revising traditional capstones. The book opens with an outline of the general theory of metaphysics. Having identified four options for subject-object relations, the book then applies these to examinations of linguistics, hermeneutics, determinism, the ethics of economics as cyberethics and cybereconomics, and the social sciences. The books also dissects "lifeworld" into "object" and "methodological" or "approach" lifeworld and shows through semantics that human factors engineering as probably identified with metaphysics as theoretical and applied. Other topics for intellectual discourse include public versus private property, God, empirical and rational knowledge, and technology's relation to science and art. The second edition features improved organization of sections within chapters based upon classroom testing, as well as substantial changes and updates to the content across all chapters. Written in recognition of ethics and metaphysics as fundamental components of philosophy and the quest for wisdom, Unified Philosophy is a thought-provoking text for students of theology, ethics, and engineering. With its focus on philosophy as an integral part of liberal arts and sciences, it is also an excellent supplement for courses in economics, anthropology, and the arts. Michael M. Kazanjian holds a master's degree in philosophy from De Paul University and is an instructor of philosophy at Triton College in Illinois. He has published extensively, and his writing has appeared in numerous publications including the Environmental and Architectural Phenomenology Newsletter and Contemporary Philosophy. Professor Kazanjian is the author of Phenomenology and Education: Cosmology, Co-Being, and Core Curriculum and Learning Values Lifelong: From Inert Ideas to Whole. He is a member of the American Philosophical Association and the Association for the Development of Philosophy Teaching.

Philosophy and the City

Download Philosophy and the City PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN 13 : 1786604612
Total Pages : 331 pages
Book Rating : 4.7/5 (866 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Philosophy and the City by : Keith Jacobs

Download or read book Philosophy and the City written by Keith Jacobs and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2019-03-15 with total page 331 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Philosophy has its origins in the city, and in the context of our own highly urbanised modes of living, the relationship between philosophy and the city is more important than ever. The city is the place in which most humans now play out their lives, and the place that determines much of the cultural, social, economic, and political life of the contemporary world. Towards a Philosophy of the City explores a wide range of approaches and perspectives in a way that is true to the city’s complex and dynamic character. The volume begins with a comprehensive introduction that identifies the key themes and then moves through four parts, examining the concept of the city itself, its varying histories and experiences, the character of the landscapes that belong to the city, and finally the impact of new technologies for the future of city spaces. Each section takes up aspects of the thinking of the city as it develops in relation to particular problems, contexts, and sometimes as exemplified in particular cities. This volume provides an invaluable resource for students and scholars in Philosophy, Geography, Sociology and Urban Studies.

Scientific Imperialism

Download Scientific Imperialism PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1351671863
Total Pages : 398 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (516 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Scientific Imperialism by : Uskali Mäki

Download or read book Scientific Imperialism written by Uskali Mäki and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2017-10-16 with total page 398 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The growing body of research on interdisciplinarity has encouraged a more in depth analysis of the relations that hold among academic disciplines. In particular, the incursion of one scientific discipline into another discipline’s traditional domain, also known as scientific imperialism, has been a matter of increasing debate. Following this trend, Scientific Imperialism aims to bring together philosophers of science and historians of science interested in the topic of scientific imperialism and, in particular, interested in the conceptual clarification, empirical identification, and normative assessment of the idea of scientific imperialism. Thus, this innovative volume has two main goals. Indeed, the authors first seek to understand interdisciplinary relations emerging from the incursion of one scientific discipline into one or more other disciplines, such as in cases in which the conventions and procedures of one discipline or field are imposed on other fields; or more weakly when a scientific discipline seeks to explain phenomena that are traditionally considered proper of another discipline’s domain. Secondly, the authors explore ways of distinguishing imperialistic from non-imperialistic interactions between disciplines and research fields. The first sustained study of scientific imperialism, this volume will appeal to postgraduate students and postdoctoral researchers interested in fields such as Science and Technology Studies, Sociology of Science & Technology, Philosophy of Science, and History of Science.

Interdisciplinary Research

Download Interdisciplinary Research PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : SAGE
ISBN 13 : 1412959152
Total Pages : 417 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (129 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Interdisciplinary Research by : Allen F. Repko

Download or read book Interdisciplinary Research written by Allen F. Repko and published by SAGE. This book was released on 2008-05-29 with total page 417 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Introduction to Interdisciplinary Research offers comprehensive treatment of the interdisciplinary research process commonly used by interdisciplinarians. The concise and guided resource on the most commonly accepted interdisciplinary studies principles as applied to the research process covers topics such as: deciding how to choose disciplines relevant to the problem or topi; dealing with disciplinary and ideological bias; making explicit the rationale for taking an interdisciplinary approach, and choosing research methods appropriate to the problem or topic.

The Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity

Download The Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0198733526
Total Pages : 657 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (987 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity by : Robert Frodeman

Download or read book The Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity written by Robert Frodeman and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2017 with total page 657 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Interdisciplinarity has become as important outside academia as within. Academics, policy makers, and the general public seek insights to help organize the vast amounts of knowledge being produced, both within research and at all levels of education. The second edition of The Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity offers a thorough update of this major reference work, summarizing the latest advances within the field of inter- and transdisciplinarity. The collection is distinguished by its breadth of coverage, with chapters written by leading experts from multiple networks and organizations. The volume is edited by respected interdisciplinary scholars and supported by a prestigious advisory board to ensure the highest quality and breadth of coverage. The Oxford Handbook of Interdisciplinarity provides a synoptic overview of the current state of interdisciplinary research, education, administration and management, and of problem solving-knowledge that spans the disciplines and interdisciplinary fields. The volume negotiates the space between the academic community and society at large. Offering the most broad-based account of inter- and transdisciplinarity to date, its 47 chapters provide a snapshot of the state of knowledge integration as interdisciplinarity approaches its century mark. This second edition expands its coverage to discuss the emergence of new fields, the increase of interdisciplinary approaches within traditional disciplines and professions, new integrative approaches to education and training, the widening international presence of interdisciplinarity, its increased support in funding agencies and science-policy bodies, and the formation of several new international associations associated with interdisciplinarity. This reference book will be a valuable addition to academic libraries worldwide, important reading for members of the sciences, social sciences, and humanities engaged in interdisciplinary research and education, and helpful for administrators and policy makers seeking to improve the use of knowledge in society.

Philosophy of Information

Download Philosophy of Information PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Elsevier
ISBN 13 : 0080930840
Total Pages : 823 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (89 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Philosophy of Information by :

Download or read book Philosophy of Information written by and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2008-11-10 with total page 823 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Information is a recognized fundamental notion across the sciences and humanities, which is crucial to understanding physical computation, communication, and human cognition. The Philosophy of Information brings together the most important perspectives on information. It includes major technical approaches, while also setting out the historical backgrounds of information as well as its contemporary role in many academic fields. Also, special unifying topics are high-lighted that play across many fields, while we also aim at identifying relevant themes for philosophical reflection. There is no established area yet of Philosophy of Information, and this Handbook can help shape one, making sure it is well grounded in scientific expertise. As a side benefit, a book like this can facilitate contacts and collaboration among diverse academic milieus sharing a common interest in information.• First overview of the formal and technical issues involved in the philosophy of information• Integrated presentation of major mathematical approaches to information, form computer science, information theory, and logic• Interdisciplinary themes across the traditional boundaries of natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.

In Defense of Disciplines

Download In Defense of Disciplines PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : University of Chicago Press
ISBN 13 : 022606946X
Total Pages : 284 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (26 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis In Defense of Disciplines by : Jerry A. Jacobs

Download or read book In Defense of Disciplines written by Jerry A. Jacobs and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2014-02-05 with total page 284 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Calls for closer connections among disciplines can be heard throughout the world of scholarly research, from major universities to the National Institutes of Health. In Defense of Disciplines presents a fresh and daring analysis of the argument surrounding interdisciplinarity. Challenging the belief that blurring the boundaries between traditional academic fields promotes more integrated research and effective teaching, Jerry Jacobs contends that the promise of interdisciplinarity is illusory and that critiques of established disciplines are often overstated and misplaced. Drawing on diverse sources of data, Jacobs offers a new theory of liberal arts disciplines such as biology, economics, and history that identifies the organizational sources of their dynamism and breadth. Illustrating his thesis with a wide range of case studies including the diffusion of ideas between fields, the creation of interdisciplinary scholarly journals, and the rise of new fields that spin off from existing ones, Jacobs turns many of the criticisms of disciplines on their heads to mount a powerful defense of the enduring value of liberal arts disciplines. This will become one of the anchors of the case against interdisciplinarity for years to come.

The Idea of Principles in Early Modern Thought

Download The Idea of Principles in Early Modern Thought PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Taylor & Francis
ISBN 13 : 1315452685
Total Pages : 320 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (154 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis The Idea of Principles in Early Modern Thought by : Peter R. Anstey

Download or read book The Idea of Principles in Early Modern Thought written by Peter R. Anstey and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2017-04-07 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This collection of essays breaks new ground in bringing together scholars from a range of disciplines to focus on the nature and status of principles in early modern thought. A comprehensive introduction argues that there is a natural "fault line" between propositional and ontological principles, and establishes a clear understanding of how the term principle might be used, and of the kinds of questions that might be raised about its usage. With contributions from leading scholars—including Daniel Garber, William Newman, and Sophie Roux—this book will be of interest to scholars of early modern philosophy, the history of early modern thought, and the history and philosophy of science.

Philosophy of Improvisation

Download Philosophy of Improvisation PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Routledge
ISBN 13 : 1000399141
Total Pages : 200 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (3 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Philosophy of Improvisation by : Susanne Ravn

Download or read book Philosophy of Improvisation written by Susanne Ravn and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2021-05-31 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This volume brings together philosophical and interdisciplinary perspectives on improvisation. The contributions connect the theoretical dimensions of improvisation with different viewpoints on its practice in the arts and the classroom. The chapters address the phenomenon of improvisation in two related ways. On the one hand, they attend to the lived practices of improvisation both within and without the arts in order to explain the phenomenon. They also extend the scope of improvisational practices to include the role of improvisation in habit and in planned action, at both individual and collective levels. Drawing on recent work done in the philosophy of mind, they address questions such as whether improvisation is a single unified phenomenon or whether it entails different senses that can be discerned theoretically and practically. Finally, they ask after the special kind of improvisational expertise which characterizes musicians, dancers, and other practitioners, an expertise marked by the artist’s ability to participate competently in complex situations while deliberately relinquishing control. Philosophy of Improvisation will appeal to anyone with a strong interest in improvisation, to researchers working in philosophy, aesthetics, and pedagogy as well as practitioners involved in different kinds of music, dance, and theater performances.

Literary Studies and the Philosophy of Literature

Download Literary Studies and the Philosophy of Literature PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319331477
Total Pages : 291 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (193 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Literary Studies and the Philosophy of Literature by : Andrea Selleri

Download or read book Literary Studies and the Philosophy of Literature written by Andrea Selleri and published by Springer. This book was released on 2016-12-01 with total page 291 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is about the interaction between literary studies and the philosophy of literature. It features essays from internationally renowned and emerging philosophers and literary scholars, challenging readers to join them in taking seriously the notion of interdisciplinary study and forging forward in new and exciting directions of thought. It identifies that literary studies and the philosophy of literature address similar issues: What is literature? What is its value? Why do I care about characters? What is the role of the author in understanding a literary work? What is fiction as opposed to non-fiction? Yet, genuine, interdisciplinary interaction remains scarce. This collection seeks to overcome current obstacles and seek out new paths for exploration.

Applied Interdisciplinary Theory in Health Informatics

Download Applied Interdisciplinary Theory in Health Informatics PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : IOS Press
ISBN 13 : 1614999910
Total Pages : 242 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (149 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Applied Interdisciplinary Theory in Health Informatics by : P. Scott

Download or read book Applied Interdisciplinary Theory in Health Informatics written by P. Scott and published by IOS Press. This book was released on 2019-08-09 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The American Medical Informatics Association (AMIA) defines the term biomedical informatics (BMI) as: The interdisciplinary field that studies and pursues the effective uses of biomedical data, information, and knowledge for scientific inquiry, problem solving and decision making, motivated by efforts to improve human health. This book: Applied Interdisciplinary Theory in Health Informatics: A Knowledge Base for Practitioners, explores the theories that have been applied in health informatics and the differences they have made. The editors, all proponents of evidence-based health informatics, came together within the European Federation of Medical Informatics (EFMI) Working Group on Health IT Evaluation and the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) Working Group on Technology Assessment and Quality Development. The purpose of the book, which has a foreword by Charles Friedman, is to move forward the agenda of evidence-based health informatics by emphasizing theory-informed work aimed at enriching the understanding of this uniquely complex field. The book takes the AMIA definition as particularly helpful in its articulation of the three foundational domains of health informatics: health science, information science, and social science and their various overlaps, and this model has been used to structure the content of the book around the major subject areas. The book discusses some of the most important and commonly used theories relevant to health informatics, and constitutes a first iteration of a consolidated knowledge base that will advance the science of the field.

Valences of Interdisciplinarity

Download Valences of Interdisciplinarity PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Au Press
ISBN 13 : 9781926836485
Total Pages : 395 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (364 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Valences of Interdisciplinarity by : Raphael Foshay

Download or read book Valences of Interdisciplinarity written by Raphael Foshay and published by Au Press. This book was released on 2011 with total page 395 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The modern university can trace its roots to Kant's call for enlightened self-determination, with education aiming to produce an informed and responsible body of citizens. As the university evolved, specialized areas of investigation emerged, enabling ever more precise research and increasingly nuanced arguments. In recent decades, however, challenges to the hegemony of disciplines have arisen, partly in response to a perceived need for the university to focus greater energy on its public vocation--teaching and the dissemination of knowledge.Valences of Interdisciplinarity presents essays by an international array of scholars committed to enhancing our understanding of the theoretical underpinnings and the practical realities of interdisciplinary teaching and research. What is, and what should be, motivating our reflections on (and practice of) approaches that transcend the conventional boundaries of discipline? And in adopting such transdisciplinary approaches, how do we safeguard critical methods and academic rigour? Reflecting on the obstacles they have encountered both as thinkers and as educators, the authors map out innovative new directions for the interdisciplinary project. Together, the essays promise to set the standards of the debate about interdisciplinarity for years to come.

Interdisciplinarity

Download Interdisciplinarity PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Psychology Press
ISBN 13 : 041525132X
Total Pages : 216 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (152 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Interdisciplinarity by : Joe Moran

Download or read book Interdisciplinarity written by Joe Moran and published by Psychology Press. This book was released on 2002 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The New Critical Idiom is a series of introductory guides to current critical terminology. Each volume provides a guide to the use and abuse of terms related to literary studies with an accent on clarity and lively debate.

Interdisciplinarity and Higher Education

Download Interdisciplinarity and Higher Education PDF Online Free

Author :
Publisher : Penn State Press
ISBN 13 : 9780271023267
Total Pages : 392 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (232 download)

DOWNLOAD NOW!


Book Synopsis Interdisciplinarity and Higher Education by : Joseph J. Kockelmans

Download or read book Interdisciplinarity and Higher Education written by Joseph J. Kockelmans and published by Penn State Press. This book was released on 1979 with total page 392 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Clarification of the aims and problems of interdisciplinarity, as this book demonstrates, not only will help reveal the movement's probable impact on university teaching and research but also will shed light on the overall future of the university. This book therefore speaks to faculty members and administrators in general, as well as to teachers and students whose specialty is the study of higher education. A recurring theme is that every academic specialty can be justified for purposes of research, provided it does not lead to overspecialization in education. The proviso is a formidable one, challenging the intellect, the will, and the good faith of all concerned. Yet interdisciplinarity has a fundamental historical sanction: disciplinary domains are not immutable but rather are constantly evolving through fission and fusion. (Examples of fission are the division of medieval grammar and rhetoric into modern lingustic and literary studies, or of 19th-century biology into today's life sciences. Fusion is exemplified in a range of fields from astrophysics through biochemistry to psycholinguists and social psychology.) A general perspective on the continuing debate about interdisciplinary is presented in the first four chapters, followed by six chapters on specific problems and prospects. The introduction reviews well-founded as well as misdirected objections to interdisciplinarity, contrasting &"natural&" interactions as in geophysics (arising from intrinsic developments) with &"artificial&" ones as in general education courses (arising from curriculum design) &—but holding that the latter can be as legitimate as the former if responsive to genuine educational needs. Chapters 1 to 4 give the historical and philosophical background of interdisciplinarity from Plato's Academy to the Center for Educational Research and Innovation. Chapters 5 to 7 consider specific challenges in the respective domains of natural science, social science, and the humanities&—cautioning against incompetent borrowings of paradigms. Chapters 8 and 9 treat the methodological, institutional, and personal problems arising from boundary-crossing. Chapter 10 critically analyzes three cases of interdisciplinary innovation in the United States and gives summary descriptions of programs in a dozen countries.